Can a GP diagnose nerve damage?

The GP can usually identify the underlying cause of a peripheral neuropathy. If diabetes is suspected, they can usually make a confident diagnosis based on your symptoms, a physical examination, and checking the levels of sugar in your blood and urine.

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How do doctors check for nerve damage?

CT or MRI scans can look for herniated disks, pinched (compressed) nerves, tumors or other abnormalities affecting the blood vessels and bones. Nerve function tests. Electromyography (EMG) records electrical activity in your muscles to detect nerve damage.

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What kind of doctor do you see if you have nerve damage?

Neurologists are specialists who treat diseases of the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles. Neurological conditions include epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson's disease. Dr.

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Is nerve damage hard to diagnose?

Nerve conditions can be hard to diagnose, and many patients live for years without an explanation or effective treatment for their muscle weakness or pain. Our specialists understand that the cause of a nerve condition is not always obvious and often requires a bit of detective work to uncover.

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Can a GP help with nerve pain?

Medicines play a limited role in managing nerve pain but your GP may prescribe a medicine to help reduce your symptoms. Having fewer or reduced symptoms can help improve your sleep or mood and let you manage your day-to-day activities more easily.

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What to Expect During Nerve Conduction Study and EMG Test

17 related questions found

Should I see my GP pinched nerve?

While many cases of pinched nerve will resolve on their own with or without treatment, you should see your doctor if symptoms last for several days. You should also see a doctor if your pain doesn't respond to self-care measures, such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.

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How long do damaged nerves take to heal?

Regeneration time depends on how seriously your nerve was injured and the type of injury that you sustained. If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury.

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What is the most common symptom of nerve damage?

Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. It can also affect other areas and body functions including digestion, urination and circulation.

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What does a damage nerve feel like?

Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can be as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.

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How do you know if nerve damage is serious?

Therefore, here are 8 signs of possible nerve damage that warrant a visit to your doctor or local neurologist:
  1. Numbness, tingling, burning. ...
  2. Sweating too much or too little. ...
  3. Difficulty moving a body part. ...
  4. Clumsiness. ...
  5. Brief, intense headaches. ...
  6. Shooting pain down one leg. ...
  7. Constantly running to the bathroom.

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What happens if nerve damage is left untreated?

Left untreated, nerve damage may worsen over time. It can sometimes start in the nerves farthest from the brain and spinal cord -- like those in the feet and hands. Then it may move up into the legs and arms.

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Do blood tests show nerve damage?

Various blood tests – For testing various kinds of side effects such as the presence of toxic elements in blood, abnormality in immune response, and vitamin deficiencies, blood tests are conducted. These blood tests are very beneficial in finding the root causes of neuropathy.

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Is nerve damage test painful?

The impulse may feel like an electric shock. You may feel some discomfort depending on how strong the impulse is. You should feel no pain once the test is finished. Often, the nerve conduction test is followed by EMG.

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Do damaged nerves ever heal?

Nerve cells can regenerate and grow back at a rate of about an inch a month, but recovery is typically incomplete and slow. This is a complete nerve injury, where the nerve sheath and underlying neurons are severed. If there is an open cut, a neurosurgeon can see the cut nerve ends at surgery and repair this.

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How did I get nerve damage?

Peripheral nerves can be damaged in several ways: Injury from an accident, a fall or sports, which can stretch, compress, crush or cut nerves. Medical conditions, such as diabetes, Guillain-Barre syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome. Autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome.

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Can nerve damage be seen?

Nerve damage can usually be diagnosed based on a neurological examination and can be correlated by MRI scan findings. The MRI scan images are obtained with a magnetic field and radio waves. No harmful ionizing radiation is used.

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How can I test for nerve damage at home?

The test involves lightly and briefly (1-2 seconds) touching the tips of the first, third and fifth toes of both feet with the index finger to detect a loss in sensation, and can be performed by patients and relatives alike in the comfort of their own home.

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When should I see a doctor about nerve damage?

When to see a doctor. With neuropathy, your symptoms may range from mild to severe and debilitating. Dr. Levine advises patients to see their doctors as soon as possible if they experience neuropathy's motor symptoms, which include muscle weakness, muscle wasting or uncontrolled twitching.

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What can be done for nerve damage?

How Are Nerve Pain and Nerve Damage Treated?
  • Regulating blood sugar levels for people with diabetes.
  • Correcting nutritional deficiencies.
  • Changing medications when drugs are causing nerve damage.
  • Physical therapy or surgery to address compression or trauma to nerves.
  • Medications to treat autoimmune conditions.

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Can stress cause nerve damage?

Chronic stress can lead to neuropathy by damaging the nervous system. When the nervous system is damaged, it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms. The end result is pain, discomfort, or even worse.

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Is nerve damage reversible?

Whether or not neuropathy can be reversed depends on the cause of the nerve damage. In some cases, the pain may go away entirely. In others, nerve damage may be permanent. For example, when neuropathy is caused by an infection, symptoms might go away completely when the infection is treated.

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Will an MRI show a pinched nerve?

MRI scans which show soft tissues, such as nerves and discs, are generally preferred over CT scans which show bony elements. Advanced imaging can show exactly which nerve or nerves are being pinched and what is causing the nerve to be pinched.

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How do you know if you have a pinched or damaged nerve?

Pinched nerve signs and symptoms include: Numbness or decreased sensation in the area supplied by the nerve. Sharp, aching or burning pain, which may radiate outward. Tingling, pins and needles sensations (paresthesia)

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Can you see nerve damage on an ultrasound?

Ultrasound imaging allows physicians to directly view nerve damage. Different diseases affect nerves in characteristic ways, some of which can be seen with ultrasound. Ultrasound is well suited for detecting nerve entrapments, such as carpal tunnel syndrome.

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How long does a nerve exam take?

How long do they take? An EMG may take 30 to 60 minutes. Nerve conduction tests may take from 15 minutes to 1 hour or more. It depends on how many nerves and muscles your doctor tests.

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